Unable to Remove Printer in Windows 10 or Windows 11: What to Do?

Removing a printer on Windows 10 or Windows 11 can sometimes be frustrating. Although the process seems straightforward, users occasionally encounter situations where the printer stubbornly remains in the device list. There can be various reasons for this, from faulty drivers to system service glitches. In this guide, we’ll explore the most effective methods to resolve this issue.

1. Remove the Printer via System Settings

The first and most obvious approach is to remove the printer through Windows settings. If the issue isn’t too complex, this method should work:

  1. Open Settings by pressing Win + I.
  2. Go to the Devices section and select Printers & Scanners.
  3. Find the printer you want to remove, click on it, and select Remove device.

If this method doesn’t work and the printer remains in the list, a more advanced solution may be required.

2. Remove the Printer via Control Panel

Sometimes, the Settings app doesn’t allow complete removal of the device. In these cases, the Control Panel may help:

  1. Open the Control Panel and go to Devices and Printers.
  2. Locate the printer you want to delete, right-click it, and select Remove device.

If the printer still won’t disappear, the issue could be related to drivers or queued print jobs.

3. Stop and Clear the Print Queue

Stuck print jobs can prevent the removal of a printer. To clear them, follow these steps:

  1. Press Win + R and type services.msc to open the Services window.
  2. Locate the Print Spooler service, right-click it, and choose Stop.
  3. Open File Explorer and navigate to C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS. Delete all files in this folder (you may need to grant permission).
  4. Go back to the Services window, and restart the Print Spooler service.

After these steps, the printer should successfully remove from the system.

4. Uninstall Printer Drivers via Device Manager

If previous methods didn’t help, try removing the printer through the Device Manager:

  1. Open Device Manager (right-click the Start button and select Device Manager).
  2. Find the Print queues section, expand it, and uninstall any drivers related to the printer you want to remove.

The system might prompt you to restart to complete the driver removal—follow the prompt if needed.

5. Use Registry Editor

The Registry Editor can be useful, though it requires a cautious approach. Follow these steps to manually remove any remaining printer entries:

  1. Press Win + R, type regedit, and hit Enter.
  2. Navigate to the following key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Printers.
  3. Find the folder with the name of your printer and delete it.

Warning: Be careful when editing the registry, as incorrect changes can cause system issues.

6. Use Windows Troubleshooter

Windows has a built-in troubleshooter for printers, which may help to automate the removal process:

  1. Open Settings and go to Update & Security — Troubleshoot.
  2. Select Printer and run the troubleshooter. It will attempt to automatically identify and fix the issue.